Rabies symptoms

Infectious Disease

Updated on September 04, 2024

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Rabies is mainly characterized by hydrophobia, fear of wind, pharyngeal muscle spasms, progressive paralysis, etc. It is divided into: the prodromal phase, the excitative phase, and the paralytic phase, with varying symptoms in each phase.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

40sec

Symptoms of rabies

Rabies is an extremely dangerous and fatal disease. Once infected, it leads to a 100% fatality rate. When rabies presents its more typical symptoms, particularly during the furious phase, it manifests significant neurological symptoms such as hallucinations, convulsive seizures, bizarre behavior, hyperactivity, and rigid neck muscles. Symptoms show as extreme fear, with a pronounced fear of water, light, and wind, and include uncontrollable spasms of the throat muscles making swallowing difficult. It progresses to opisthotonus and ultimately results in coma and death.

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

35sec

Does rabies spread through saliva?

Rabies is primarily transmitted through saliva. The rabies virus is likely to be present in the saliva of dogs or cats during the symptomatic phase. Dogs or cats carrying the rabies virus have a high concentration of the virus in their saliva during this phase. If bitten by an animal in this stage, there is a significant risk of infection. Prevention measures should be based on the actual situation, including vaccination against rabies and local administration of rabies immunoglobulin at the wound site. Rabies is a fatal disease with no treatment available, but it is preventable.

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

31sec

Why is rabies afraid of water?

The reason why rabies fears water is because the rabies virus proliferates extensively in the brain, causing massive damage to brain tissues and cells. When it affects certain swallowing nerves and glossopharyngeal nerves, and causes extensive necrosis of brain and liver cells, these symptoms will appear. In addition to fearing water, there is also a fear of bright light, wind sounds, and noise. There will be evident fear-induced spasms, and eventually, it leads to death due to coma, and it is also prone to fever.

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

36sec

How is rabies transmitted?

Rabies is primarily contracted through bites from rabid dogs who have not been vaccinated against the disease. The rabies virus is present in the saliva of rabid dogs, cats, and there is also a risk of infection from bats if they carry the rabies virus and one is bitten by such a bat. Generally, rabies infection occurs through bites or scratches from animals carrying the rabies virus; there have been no cases of transmission from human to human. Rabies is a fatal disease, so if there is exposure, it is essential to take preventive measures, as there is no cure.

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

32sec

Does rabies cause nosebleeds?

Rabies does not necessarily present with nosebleeds. The more typical symptoms of rabies are episodes of panic, along with distinct fears and agitation towards water, light, and wind. In the late stages of rabies, there often occurs paralysis of the respiratory muscles, ultimately leading to death by suffocation. Rabies is a fatal disease; once symptoms develop following infection, it leads to a 100% fatality rate, with no treatment strategies available. Therefore, prevention of rabies is absolutely crucial.

Rabies symptoms

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Other Voices

Symptoms of rabies

Does rabies spread through saliva?

Why is rabies afraid of water?

How is rabies transmitted?

Does rabies cause nosebleeds?